Articles Tagged ‘directline - Brake the road safety charity’

The reports are based on surveys of UK drivers, revealing their attitudes and behaviour on key road safety topics, and providing an insight into what needs to be done to make our roads safer for everyone.

David Stewart, MSP for the Highlands and Islands, has been given a national road safety award by the charity Brake and Direct Line Group for his tireless campaign to prevent young driver crashes and save lives by introducing a graduated driver licence scheme in Scotland.

Graduated driver licensing allows new drivers to build skills and experience gradually while less exposed to danger, by setting a minimum learning period and imposing restrictions on newly-qualified drivers, such as a night-time curfew and limit on carrying young passengers, for a period after passing the driving test.

Graduated driver licensing is used in a number of other countries including Australia, New Zealand, and many US states, and it is estimated it could save 400 deaths and serious injuries a year if used in the UK [1]. David Stewart has been at the forefront of the campaign to introduce graduated driver licensing here since 2010.

In December 2014, David travelled to London and met with transport minister Claire Perry MP, to make the case for a pilot graduated driver licence scheme in Scotland. The minister asked David to provide her with his research on the issue, which the government will make use of to respond with their own proposals.

In the meantime, David has been gathering support, including by meeting with the head of roads policing in Scotland, Superintendent Iain Murray, in January 2015.

To complement his call for graduated driver licensing, David also launched a scheme called theProgressive Teen Driver Agreement in 2014. This initiative is designed to get parents and teenage drivers to agree on how they will behave behind the wheel – and the consequences if they break the agreement.

Beyond young driver issues, David has established a reputation as a leading all-round road safety campaigner, raising awareness on issues from tyre safety and winter driving to mobile phone use and driver eyesight, including through Brake’s annualRoad Safety Week campaign.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said: “Young people are being killed and seriously injured at a shocking rate on roads across the UK, and young drivers are involved in a huge proportion of serious road crashes. Graduated driver licensing is a tried and tested way of tackling the problem, yet Westminster has repeatedly stalled on progressing the decisive changes we need to our learning to drive system, as more young lives are being lost. David has been a wonderful champion for the cause, and we hope that with his continued hard work, Scotland can set an example for the rest of the UK on young driver safety. David is a passionate and dedicated road safety campaigner, and we are pleased to recognise this by making him our road safety parliamentarian of the month.”

Accepting his award, David Stewart, MSP for the Highlands and Islands and Shadow Minister for Transport and Islands, said:“I am delighted on behalf of my team, to accept this award which is recognition of the hard work we have all put into making our roads safer. It is a sad fact that there is a high proportion of serious and fatal collisions involving young people on our roads, and of course one of these collisions is one too many. I have been working closely with Dr Sarah Jones of Cardiff University, who carried out 10 years of study into road collisions in Scotland and Wales. Her studies found up to 22 lives and £80 million could be saved per year if a graduated licence was introduced in Scotland alone. I want to work with our partners and young people to come up with solution to make our roads safer for all.”

“I want to thank Brake and Direct Line for acknowledging the commitment and drive my team and I have put into road safety related issues over the years and I know that all involved with me in my various road safety campaigns will be delighted with this award as recognition of their efforts.”

Notes for editors

Brake

Brake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education,services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by UK Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England No 1179980. UK Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com.

The manifesto highlights serious problems with how the justice system deals with criminal driving, and makes a number of recommendations for urgently-needed change. These include tougher sentences and more appropriate charges for drivers who kill and injure, better support for victims, and improved investigations of crashes. It was developed by Mulholland and his staff, with support and guidance from Brake, other campaigning organisations, bereaved families, and a cross-party group of MPs and peers.

The contributors to the manifesto were brought together to discuss the issues around criminal driving by Greg Mulholland at a roundtable event he organised and chaired in Parliament in December 2014.

Greg Mulholland has been a long time campaigner for better justice for victims of road crime, having started his work on this issue after his constituent, 16 year old Otley resident Jamie Still, was killed by a drink driver in December 2010. This is the third time Brake has recognised Mulholland for his work, having named him Road Safety Parliamentarian of the Month in April 2009 and Parliamentarian of the Year in 2012.

The criminal driving manifesto has now been sent to home secretary Theresa May, transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin and justice secretary Chris Grayling, as well as all MPs and all three main parties. It has already received pledges of support from across the political spectrum.

Brake is optimistic that Mulholland’s manifesto will influence and add momentum to a review of all driving charges and penalties currently being undertaken by the Ministry of Justice.

Ed Morrow, campaigns officer, Brake, the road safety charity, said: “Greg has been a fantastic champion for reform of criminal driving charges and penalties, and for better justice for victims and their families. We are proud to support the launch of the criminal driving manifesto, and delighted to name him as our road safety Parliamentarian of the Month for the third time.

“Through the support Brake offers to bereaved and injured road crash victims, we see every day the devastating impact criminal driving has. Many families are left feeling betrayed by the failings of the justice system, due to inappropriate charges and lenient sentences. We are hopeful that Greg’s manifesto will help provide the impetus for meaningful and long-lasting change, moving us towards a justice system, and a society, that takes road crimes seriously and helps prevent more tragedies in the future.”

Accepting his award, Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, said:“Very pleased to win this award, especially as criminal driving is something I have campaigned on for many years. The manifesto I launched was shaped by the experiences of victims and their families, and campaigning organisations including Brake were central to the whole process. I remain determined to campaign for the key changes the manifesto calls for, get proper justice for victims of criminal driving, and a huge thanks to Brake for their support and the work they continue to do.”

Notes for editors

Brake

Brake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by UK Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England No 1179980. UK Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com.

Maria Caulfield, MP for Lewes, has today been honoured with a parliamentarian road safety award by Brake, the road safety charity, and Direct Line Group.

The award recognises Maria’s efforts to improve road safety on country lanes for all road users. Maria has been campaigning on this issue following a serious collision in her constituency in which Beverley Berrill was knocked off her horse by a speeding driver. The crash resulted in Ms Berrill being hospitalised for ten days and her horse being put down.

As part of the campaign, Maria presented a petition in Parliament, signed by over 1,500 local residents, calling on country lanes in Ditchling, Streat and Westmeston to be designated quiet lanes [1] to improve safety for all road users.

Brake has long called for safer speed limits through its Pace for People campaign [2]. Whilst some progress has been made on urban speed, with increasing numbers of 20mph zones across the UK, country roads remain a high-risk environment. Most country roads [3] in the UK have a 60mph limit, the national default for single carriageway roads, however, such roads are often unsuitable for high speeds as they are narrow, with blind bends, and no pavements or cycle paths. Local councils are permitted to set lower limits in certain areas but any deviation from the default speed can be costly to implement. Brake is seeking a reduction in the national default limit to deliver slower, safer roads.

“Maria’s efforts to improve road safety on country lanes should be applauded and Brake is delighted to recognise her important work with this award.”

“Shockingly, 40% of all road deaths in Britain happen on country roads [4], and the cause is often speed-related. The Government must act to put a halt to this carnage through a reduction of the national default 60mph limit on single carriageway roads to 50mph. Slower speeds save lives and help make our streets more liveable environments for all road users.”

Accepting her award, Maria Caulfield MP said:

“This is such an important issue for local residents in the rural parts of my constituency, as is shown by the high number of people who have signed my petition. I was pleased to be able to present this petition and show this strength of feeling in the House of Commons.”

“I’d like to pass on my thanks to the many residents who have signed the petition. I am grateful to Brake, the road safety charity, for picking up on this issue and helping to highlight the dangers that residents face on country lanes.”

“We applaud Maria for her work campaigning for safer roads in and around Lewes. There are still too many accidents on rural roads. The government should look at default speed limits. But speed limits are only limits. Drivers should ensure that they are driving at a safe speed regardless of the speed limit - and in narrow, winding country lanes, that may be well below the legal speed limit.”

[1] Quiet lanes allow for easier and safer use of roads by multiple users, including vehicles, equestrians and cyclists. This typically includes a reduced speed limit and other signs which request drivers to be mindful of other road users.

Brake is a national road safety and sustainable transport charity, founded in 1995, that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies.

We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

A report released today (28 April 2015) by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line has revealed worrying and widespread disregard for traffic laws among UK drivers, with half (49%) admitting to breaking them.

Half of drivers who admit breaking traffic laws (25% of all drivers) say they do so through inattention, while the other half (23% of all drivers) admit doing so deliberately, because they think they can get away with it or do not agree with the laws. This makes it clear that more needs to be done both to enforce traffic laws, and to persuade drivers to buy in to the importance of complying with them.

Brake is calling on any new government to reverse this trend and make traffic enforcement a national policing priority, alongside giving greater impetus to bringing casualties down and making streets safer.

UK drivers are more confident in the safety of their own driving than they were 10 years ago, with more than two thirds (69%) rating themselves as safer than most other drivers, up from half (50%) in 2005. Drivers judge each other more harshly than themselves, with the majority (58%) saying there are more dangerous drivers than safe drivers on UK roads.

Young drivers (17-24) are most likely to rate their driving as safer than others, with three in five (58%) saying they are “much” safer. Given young drivers are proportionately involved in more crashes than older drivers [4], this suggests overconfidence is putting them at risk. Young drivers are more likely to rate the majority of other drivers as dangerous and to feel endangered by them, suggesting they may be more aware of bad habits that become habitual for experienced drivers.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive, Brake, said:“As these figures make clear, law breaking on our roads is not just down to a minority but endemic. For whatever reason, many seem to feel they are beyond the law or that traffic laws are somehow optional. This represents a failure by government to ensure traffic policing is receiving adequate priority and to make clear the importance and legitimacy of traffic laws. Traffic laws exist to save lives and prevent injuries and terrible suffering. No matter how experienced or skilled a driver you believe yourself to be, you cannot break them safely.

“Whoever takes power after 7 May needs to make traffic policing a national policing priority, to ensure there is a strong deterrent against risky law-breaking on roads. We also need to see road safety given greater political priority, to set casualties falling once more and deliver safer streets for communities everywhere. That means reintroducing road casualty reduction targets, and working harder to win the ideological battle, to ensure everyone who gets behind the wheel understands why the rules exist and accepts their responsibility to abide by them and keep people safe.”

Rob Miles, director of motor at Direct Line,commented: “Drivers continue to flout the rules of the road without realising the devastating impact their actions can have. Traffic laws are there for a reason and breaking them puts lives at risk.

“Breaking the law whilst behind the wheel can lead to a criminal conviction and being declined for car insurance, with even minor offences leading to fines and increased insurance premiums.”

Traffic police numbers in England and Wales have fallen by 23% in the past four years, from 5,635 in March 2010 to 4,356 in March 2014 [5]. This continues a trend, highlighted by Brake, which has been ongoing since at least 2008.

It is not just overall numbers of traffic police that are falling, but their strength as a proportion of all police officers, down from 3.9% in 2010 to 3.4% in 2014 [6].

The most recent national road casualty figures showed that deaths and serious injuries increased by 4% in the year ending September 2014, with deaths up by 1%. Child casualties also saw their first rolling year increase in 20 years [7].

About the report

These survey results come from Section 1 of Report 3: A risky business, part of the Direct Line and Brake reports on safe driving, 2015-17, released today (Tuesday 28 April 2015). The survey consisted of 1,000 drivers and was conducted by Surveygoo. See the report.

Full results

Q1: How do you think the safety of your driving compares with other drivers on the roads today?

0% said they are much more dangerous than most drivers (0% 17-24)

1% said they are slightly more dangerous than most drivers (0% 17-24)

29% said they are about average (19% 17-24)

30% said they are slightly safer than most drivers (23% 17-24)

39% said they are much safer than most drivers (58% 17-24)

Q2: In the past 12 months, what has been your impression of the standard of driving on UK roads?

1% said the roads are full of safe drivers (0% 17-24)

41% said there are more safe drivers than dangerous drivers (20% 17-24)

43% said there are more dangerous drivers than safe drivers (68% 17-24)

15% said the roads are full of dangerous drivers (12% 17-24)

Q3: In the past 12 months, how often have you felt endangered by the behaviour of other drivers?

2% said every time I drive (0% 17-24)

14% said most times I drive (24% 17-24)

56% said sometimes (51% 17-24)

24% said rarely (19% 17-24)

4% said never (5% 17-24)

Q4: In the past 12 months, what kinds of unsafe driving behaviour have you witnessed and been concerned about?

71% said distraction (e.g. by mobile phones, eating/drinking, or any other activity at the wheel unrelated to driving)

71% said tailgating/driving too close to other vehicles

67% said speeding

66% said risky overtaking

59% said turning, pulling out or changing lanes without looking properly

39% said drifting/swerving across lanes or straddling more than one lane

Brake is a national road safety charity that exists to stop the needless deaths and serious injuries that happen on roads every day, make streets and communities safer for everyone, and care for families bereaved and injured in road crashes. Brake promotes road safety awareness, safe and sustainable road use, and effective road safety policies. We do this through national campaigns, community education, services for road safety professionals and employers, and by coordinating the UK's flagship road safety event every November, Road Safety Week. Brake is a national, government-funded provider of support to families and individuals devastated by road death and serious injury, including through a helpline and support packs.

Brake was founded in the UK in 1995, and now has domestic operations in the UK and New Zealand, and works globally to promote action on road safety.

Road crashes are not accidents; they are devastating and preventable events, not chance mishaps. Calling them accidents undermines work to make roads safer, and can cause insult to families whose lives have been torn apart by needless casualties.

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by UK Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England No 1179980. UK Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc. Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com.

Brake and Direct Line Insurance have awarded Richard Spring, MP for Suffolk West, ‘Parliamentarian of the Year – Community Campaigner’ for his determination to improve safety on the most dangerous road in his region.

The A11, which leads into Norfolk, has claimed many lives over the years and Richard has been campaigning to secure funding for safety improvements to the road. Plans were made to resolve the problems by dualling it, identified as a priority ten years ago, but little progress had been made before the start of 2009.

Richard has been involved in the campaign from the start. He has rallied support from local counsellors, constituents and parliamentary colleagues from Norfolk, who have put aside party differences to devise ways of getting the issue prioritised. He has raised awareness of the issue by taking his campaign to the press and found numerous ways to put pressure on local and Government decision makers.

Along with Christopher Fraser MP and Councillor Daniel Cox, Richard presented a petition containing 15,000 local signatures to then Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon MP before formally meeting him to discuss the issue further.

Following his meeting, Richard managed to secure funding for the dualling of the A11, a timetable was agreed and work should begin in 2010, with improvements in place by 2012-2013.

Brake applauds Richard’s commitment to road safety and his determination to see the campaign through to the end for the benefit of his constituents and everyone using the A11. The awards were presented at Brake’s annual reception at the Houses of Parliament on the evening of Tuesday 19 January 2010.

Cathy Keeler, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: “We are delighted to see that safety improvements are finally due to begin on the A11. Richard has shown real determination in rallying support and fighting for road safety on behalf of his constituents. Brake congratulates Richard on his success and is happy to recognise his efforts by awarding him ‘Parliamentarian of the Year – Community Campaigner’.”

Richard Spring MP said: “I was surprised and deeply touched that Brake felt that I deserved an award. Road safety is not a glamorous issue and neither is it a party political issue, and as such I would like to thank Charles Clarke MP who has been of great help in the attempts over many years to make such a dangerous stretch of road as the A11, safe. These sorts of campaigns can take years, and this one has not finished yet as work is yet to be started. A great deal more dogged determination may be required, from a great many more people, before lives stop being lost.”

Steve Treloar, Managing Director of Motor at Direct Line Insurance said: “As the UK’s number one direct car insurer we have a very real interest in ensuring that road safety issues remain part of the public and political agenda and real action is taken at a local and national level to avoid the tragedies that are still too common on our roads. We are proud to sponsor these awards and would like to congratulate Richard who has tirelessly campaigned to make a difference.”

Members of the public can nominate their MP for a Brake award by emailing ebooth@brake.org.uk. They can also visit the Brake website (www.brake.org.uk) to find out about how to support Brake’s work with families that have been affected by a road crash by helping to raise vital funds for Brake. You could take part in a parachute jump, organise a coffee morning or take part in a sponsored walk. To find out about these and other fundraising ideas, call Lisa Kendall on 01484 683294 or email lkendall@brake.org.uk

Photos of Richard receiving his award are available from Brake.

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line is part of RBS Insurance, the second largest general insurer in the UK1 and is wholly owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com Direct Line Insurance plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered office: 3 Edridge Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 1AG. Registered in England and Wales no. 01810801. The Financial Services Authority’s Register can be accessed through http://www.fsa.gov.uk

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Every 30 seconds someone, somewhere in the world is killed in a road crash. Brake works to stop road deaths and injuries by campaigning for safer roads; supports people bereaved or injured in road crashes; and raises public awareness for sustainable transport. Registered charity No. 1093244